Back in his room, Yin Hao smashed an expensive tea set, but it still wasn’t enough to calm the burning rage inside him. Standing by the window, his eyes were clouded with gloom as he plotted.
There was no way he could swallow this humiliation. None of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for He Changning. Everything—it was all that guy’s fault. If he had just obediently married into the Shang family and brought the Yin family the maximum benefit, then Yin Hao wouldn’t have hesitated to acknowledge him as a brother, even if he was marrying in as a male spouse.
But no. That ungrateful brat not only demanded compensation from the family, he even colluded with Shang Yushang to scam Yin Corporation out of money.
If Shang Yushang discovered they had tampered with the evaluation report—even if he spared them for He Changning’s sake—there was no guarantee he wouldn’t retaliate in the future. The Shang family’s standing in the business world and Shang Yushang’s ruthless methods weren’t something the Yin family could possibly compete with. If that happened, they’d be crushed like insects. And that brat would walk away the winner.
No way. No way was he letting He Changning off that easily.
He had to come up with something—some way to take him down. Or at least dig up some dirt and use it to control him. If nothing else, it could secure a backup plan for himself and the Yin family.
Once his mind was made up, he acted immediately. He made a call and went out to meet someone.
Meanwhile, upstairs, He Changning was still immersed in his work, completely unaware that a carefully laid trap was already closing in—silent, calculated, and designed to destroy him.
Shang Yushang had been so busy the past few days, his feet barely touched the ground. He was racing to wrap up company matters so he could devote more time and energy to the upcoming wedding. Of course, what he wanted most was to spend more time with He Changning, to deepen their connection and build the foundation for their future together.
Still, no matter how swamped he was, he always made time to call He Changning—asking how he was, what he was working on, whether he was eating well and getting enough rest. He constantly reminded him to be cautious around the Yin family and not to hesitate to reach out to him or the bodyguards he’d sent if anything went wrong.
Every time Shang Yushang called was the highlight of He Changning’s day. He would smile as he reported what he’d done, how he felt, what he ate, always ending with gentle reminders of his own: “Don’t overwork yourself,” “Make sure to rest,” “Take care of your health.” It was like they were an old married couple already, worrying about each other from afar.
Aunt Qin would sometimes watch He Changning on the phone, smiling so brightly, and think to herself, This child… he finally gets to be happy. He’s loved, cherished, protected. Minglan, up in heaven—you can rest easy now.
The person who came to deliver the official wedding date was the old butler from the Shang family’s ancestral home. Having served the family for many years, he was highly regarded by the Shang matriarch and held a respected position even in Shang Yushang’s eyes. His name was Uncle Liao.
When Uncle Liao arrived at the Yin home, he didn’t bother with pleasantries—he asked to see He Changning directly. The moment He Changning arrived, Uncle Liao greeted him warmly, “Young Master Ning, I’m the butler of the Shang family estate. If it’s not too much trouble, you may call me Uncle Liao.”
He Changning gave a polite bow. “You’re too kind, Uncle Liao. Just call me Changning.”
The old man remained composed and proper. “Thank you for the honor, Young Master Ning. But propriety must be upheld.”
He Changning rubbed his nose with a wry smile. People from these old families sure have a lot of rules. He couldn’t help wondering—after marrying into the Shang family, was he going to have to be this proper all the time too? That sounded exhausting. “Then I’ll follow your lead,” he said good-naturedly.
Uncle Liao’s sharp eyes had seen plenty over the years. He could tell right away—this young man was calm, well-mannered, and refined. A bit young, perhaps, and with a face that gave away everything he felt, but his sincerity and kindness were clear as day. He was the perfect match for the elder young master—complementary in both personality and energy. Madam truly has a good eye, he thought. This one’s a gem—handsome, warm, and graceful. Just perfect.
After exchanging brief courtesies with the Yin matriarch, Uncle Liao got straight to the point.
“Young Master Ning, the madam asked me to inform you that the wedding date has been finalized—it will be on the twenty-eighth of this month. That gives us about twenty days. It’s a bit tight, but please rest assured—Madam is making sure every detail is being handled with care. Everything will be prepared properly.
“The extended family has already arrived, and all the wedding arrangements are proceeding smoothly. All you need to do is wait for the young master to come and escort you.”
He took a sip of tea before continuing.
“The madam also asked if there’s anything you need—please speak freely. Whatever it is, she’ll make sure you have it.”
He Changning smiled, “There’s nothing more I need. I trust Madam to handle everything. Please thank her on my behalf—I’m very grateful for all her efforts.”
“You’re too kind, Young Master. I’ll deliver your message to the madam. The young master is still dealing with company matters, but once that’s done, he’ll come fetch you himself. You two will pick out the wedding attire and jewelry together. As for the wedding photos, Madam has already arranged for a very reputable photographer. You’ll get to choose the location together when the time comes.”
“Great. I’ll talk it over with Yushang when he gets here.”
After giving a few more reminders, Uncle Liao took his leave.
Throughout his visit, the Yin matriarch and Song Min had been entirely ignored, treated like they didn’t exist. They were furious—but had no outlet for their anger. Faces dark with resentment, they returned to their rooms in silence.
For the past few days, the matriarch and Song Min had been living in a constant state of unease. On one hand, they feared Shang Yushang might retaliate against the Yin family over the fake evaluation report. On the other hand, now that the wedding date was confirmed, they were even more upset that the Shang family had sent only a butler as notice—nothing else. And the butler had spoken only with He Changning, smiling and laughing with him like they were close friends, treating the rest of them as nothing but air.
It was humiliating.
To save face, they made an excuse about visiting relatives and went out, claiming they’d be back before the wedding.
Of course, He Changning wasn’t the least bit concerned with their petty power plays. Aunt Qin grumbled about how toxic the whole family was—that they were all schemers, lacking any dignity or decency.
He Changning didn’t comment. He just focused on his work and let them do whatever they wanted.
That day, with Yin Zhinen out for business and the family’s youngest disgrace, Yin Jun, out partying, the house was quiet—only He Changning and Yin Hao were home.
Seizing the opportunity, Yin Hao made a call and invited someone over.
When the guest arrived, Yin Hao found an excuse to send Aunt Qin away for a while. Then, taking advantage of the moment, he slipped something into He Changning’s usual glass of milk. Casually, he returned to chatting with his guest, stealing glances at Aunt Qin—waiting to see if she would unknowingly take the tainted milk upstairs.
Sure enough, unaware of anything amiss, Aunt Qin carried the glass of milk upstairs.
Yin Hao stood outside He Changning’s room, his expression dark and his gaze as venomous as a viper’s. “Brother Dao,” he said coldly, “you can go up in ten minutes. Make sure you record everything. Once it’s done, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Across from him, the man known as Dao was already wearing a lecherous grin, practically drooling. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. As for the reward, we’ll talk about that later. Your little brother’s a real beauty—one time isn’t nearly enough. You’re just trying to get leverage on him, right? Once he’s been with me, he’ll be eating out of your hand.”
Upstairs, Aunt Qin placed the glass of milk on He Changning’s desk. “You’ve been pulling all-nighters for days now. Your body’s not going to take it if you keep this up.”
“I know, Aunt Qin. I’m almost done—just one more night and I’ll be finished.”
She fussed at him. “You always forget to take care of yourself when you’re working. Your health matters too, you know. Now drink this milk.”
“Okay, I will in a bit. You go get some rest—I’ll be done soon.”
Yawning, she mumbled that she was too old to stay up late anymore and shuffled back to her room.
He Changning watched her leave, a warm feeling blooming in his chest. It was a rare kind of comfort—knowing someone cared for you, worried for you. It was… nice.
A certain face floated into his mind—gentle when he was near, full of quiet concern over the phone. Just thinking about Shang Yushang filled his heart with a soft sweetness. Less than twenty days now, and they’d be living together every day. Honestly, he was kind of looking forward to it.
Startled by his own uncharacteristically lovesick thoughts, he quickly shook them off and went back to work. Absentmindedly, he picked up the glass of milk, took several big gulps, and set it aside, the rest nearly gone.
Time ticked by. Gradually, the computer screen in front of He Changning began to blur. He shook his head hard, but the buzzing in his skull only got worse. His vision lost focus completely—the room spun wildly around him.
Some small part of his consciousness screamed that something was wrong. He’d been drugged. There was no time to figure out who had done it. He had to act—while he still could.
Summoning all his remaining strength, he stumbled to the balcony, gripping the railing for support. With the last of his energy, he shouted hoarsely, “Xiao Wu!”
It wasn’t entirely clear, but Xiao Wu, ever alert, caught something in the air. Without hesitation, he scaled the wall to the second floor, using the rain gutter for support. In under a minute, he was on the balcony outside He Changning’s room.
When he saw He Changning collapsed on the floor, his eyes widened in shock. He rushed over and helped him up. “Young Master Ning—what happened?!”
He Changning’s face was ghostly pale, sweat pouring down his temples. His voice was barely a whisper. “Call… Yushang… Don’t alert… the Yin family…” And then he passed out completely.
Xiao Wu steadied him, then let out a sharp whistle through the window. Moments later, two more figures appeared. Xiao Qi checked He Changning’s pulse. “He’s been drugged—strong sedative.”
All three of them broke into a cold sweat. This was a serious failure on their part. If something happened to He Changning, they would never forgive themselves.
Xiao Wu took control. “Xiao Qi, contact the young master immediately. And remember—Young Master Ning said not to alert the Yin family. Xiao Er, the one who did this is probably still in the house. I don’t care what it takes—find them. Knock out the Yins if you have to. Go!”
Xiao Er nodded. “Protect Young Master Ning.” Then split off with Xiao Qi to carry out the orders.
At that same moment, Shang Yushang, still at the office, suddenly felt an inexplicable wave of unease. Work had been piling up, but with He Changning constantly on his mind, his temper had been short lately. Everyone in the office was on edge, afraid that even the smallest misstep could cost them their job—or worse.
Then his phone rang.
The special ringtone he had assigned to the bodyguards watching over He Changning.
His body tensed instantly. Something had happened.
He answered immediately. “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Qi’s voice came through, hurried and tense. “Young Master, it’s He Changning. Someone drugged him.”
Shang Yushang shot to his feet, a deadly aura erupting from his entire body. “WHAT?!”
Xiao Qi trembled. The young master’s voice was cold enough to freeze blood. “Please don’t panic. He’s not in critical danger. He passed out, but he’s stable for now.”
Grabbing his car keys, Shang Yushang barked, “Mobilize everyone. Lock down the entire Yin residence. No one leaves.”
“But sir,” Xiao Qi said carefully, “before he passed out, Young Master Ning said… not to alert the Yins.”
Shang Yushang’s mind raced. If Changning had made that request, there had to be a reason. “Surround the house and monitor every move they make—quietly. Call Dr. Bai Mo. Tell him he has ten minutes to get to the Yin estate. And tell Xiao Er—whoever drugged him, I want them caught. Whatever it takes.”
“Yes, sir.”
Xiao Qi sprang into action, calling Bai Mo and then rejoining Xiao Er to deal with the Yins. Just as they finished securing the house, Shang Yushang’s car screeched to a halt outside.
Xiao Qi flung open the gates as the man stormed inside.
He raced up the stairs without even glancing at the unconscious person lying by the stairs. In seconds, he was at He Changning’s bedside. Grabbing his hand, his heart ached at the sight.
His Changning, who always looked so calm and luminous, now lay deathly pale and motionless. His chest tightened painfully—as if he could barely breathe.
“Changning, it’s me. I’m here. Wake up, please. I’m here.” His voice trembled as he called out again and again, gripping He Changning’s hand like a lifeline.
Then he turned, eyes bloodshot, cold and sharp like blades. His voice dropped to a terrifying growl. “Why weren’t you by his side? If anything happens to him, how many lives do you think it’ll take to pay for it?!”
Xiao Wu and Xiao Er flinched, drenched in cold sweat. This was their fault. They didn’t try to defend themselves—they wouldn’t dare. They only prayed Young Master Ning would recover.
Dr. Bai Mo arrived just in time to hear the last of it. Without wasting a second, he began examining He Changning.
Moments later, his face darkened. “He’s been given a double dose of sedatives… and a strong hallucinogen on top of that.”
Shang Yushang’s fists clenched, knuckles cracking. His face had gone completely cold. Rage poured from his body like a storm cloud.
“Administer the antidote now. I don’t care what it takes—make sure there are zero lasting effects.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. But you need to calm down. He’s the priority right now. Everything else can wait.”
That snapped Shang Yushang back to focus. “Xiao Er, did you catch the bastard?”
“Yes, sir. He’s downstairs.”
“Take him away. Tell Da Zhou to give him a warm welcome. I want to know exactly who sent him.”
“And the Yins?”
“Throw them all into one room. We’ll deal with them after Changning wakes up.”
Across the room, Bai Mo had already hooked up the IV drip. The medicine flowed steadily, drop by drop.
Shang Yushang sat by the bed, holding He Changning’s hand, staring at him without blinking—terrified that if he looked away, he might disappear.
